we examine the community structure and
co-occurrence patterns of amphibians inhabiting a pond
network at Lake Victoria. Specifically, we answer to the
following key questions: (i) within a same landscape scale,
are amphibian assemblages from natural ponds different
from those inhabiting artificial ponds? (ii) Are the
amphibian communities randomly or nonrandomly organized? The results from multivariate analyses revealed the
existence of three groups of species: (i) Xenopus victorianus being linked exclusively to artificial ponds, (ii) Phrynobatrachus
natalensis being linked essentially to artificial ponds, and (iii) a third group being constituted by species mainly (Ptychadena mascareniensis) or exclusively (Hoplobatrachus
occipitalis and Hemisus guineensis) linked to natural ponds. The recent origin of
our artificial ponds seems linked to the random organization of the anuran communities.

we examine the community structure and
co-occurrence patterns of amphibians inhabiting a pond
network at Lake Victoria. Specifically, we answer to the
following key questions: (i) within a same landscape scale,
are amphibian assemblages from natural ponds different
from those inhabiting artificial ponds? (ii) Are the
amphibian communities randomly or nonrandomly organized? The results from multivariate analyses revealed the
existence of three groups of species: (i) Xenopus victorianus being linked exclusively to artificial ponds, (ii) Phrynobatrachus
natalensis being linked essentially to artificial ponds, and (iii) a third group being constituted by species mainly (Ptychadena mascareniensis) or exclusively (Hoplobatrachus
occipitalis and Hemisus guineensis) linked to natural ponds. The recent origin of
our artificial ponds seems linked to the random organization of the anuran communities.